WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10571, 18 January 1896, Page 6

WELLINGTON NEWS NOTES.

(Feoh- Oub Own Coheespohdbst. j: Wellington, January 17.

DHE COMINS ELECTION.

There-is gome talk among politicians about Che coming election in so far as locaj represent a- j tion is concerned. Tins it is understood in well-informed quarters that the Premier will contest Wellington in the hope that he may defeat, if. not displace, the senior member, Sir E. Stout. To me it seams an ill-advised move on thie part of Mr Seddon, for he may snffer defeat, and certainly will nofc displace ttie knight.- Bor Ofcaki Sir Walter Bulter, who has stake in the district, will fight all-comers., There is a story current that he will have the support of the Government, which ■would'be"a remarkable thing, bat I"do' not,] think this is the case. Oa the contrary I have » reason to'suppose that he has yeb to reckon with the Hon. John M'Kepaie in the matter 'of.the famous breach of privilege of last session. .'■' CABINET BECONSTfiUCTION; - '■ . 'I The reconstruction of the Cabinet etill hangs J Ere, and I am beginning to -think there may be possibilities of. further reconstruction oiher than the filling of present vacancies tnat.are thecanse'of the Premier's Be'eming indecision ; ' but more'of thia anonj But the events that seem :to be- making for sdded difficulty iv ; CsbineS reconstruction are marching very Vquickly, so that I may ere long be enabled to make my meaning clear. THE ASSETS BOABD. .. . : , .' The Premier is understood, as a member of the Assets Eealisation Board, to be ardently engaged in exploring tho ramiOcations of the transactions c-f the Gloio Assets Company, and may be expected when ttie House meets to .".newer alt questions. (that he does not project hiraeelf through his foHowera) with the same frankness and lucidity that for the past two sessions have characterised the replies of the Treasurer upon the binking question. I. '. : THE ■SyAIH.IK.iPA LAKE. ' ' Since-tb'e-earlydays there has been difficulty with the local Natives as to the right of the jettlers to open tho Wairarapa Lake annnally and allow-the flood waters to escape to the tea,, from which they ire dammed back by a narrow. neck of sand and consequently submerge much low - lying pasture land. The diapnte bits', been /.finally fettled by payment py the Government to the Maoris concerned of £2000, and tho conservation of certain fishing rights and reserves along the shore, 'jo celebrate this event the Maoris will to-morrow give a monster picnic near the lake., The following invitation' which has reached me speaks for itself; as showing the'existing" feisljng:—f'To our pakeha friend 3. Greeting,— The great question of. lights in connection with the Wairarapa lakes which have iv times past occasionally interrupted amicable ' rfcKfcions between the Mooris-and the European settlers having now been set at rest for ever, the, chiefs and their people,: desirous of continuing and , firmly-establishing the bonds of friendship and good feeling between themsslveaand the pake-has in general, and .their European ( neighbours in particular, cordially invite them all to a social

gathering at Pigeon Bash on Saturday, 18th , January 1898. Vcom your friend, H. Tawahau MizrrjPCKO—(that is, from and on behalf of the Maori comraitteea, tribes, hspas, and .families •PWahatapa)."